What Are Some Good Atheist/non Believer Songs?

[08 hawk]

(nm)

[Evolution_beyond]

'Heresy' by Nine Inch Nails - "God is dead and no one cares. If there is a hell, I'll see you there"

 

'God that failed' by Metallica

 

Heavy metal is pretty good for that sort of thing.

 

But here's one that's not metal. 'Love action' by Human League contains the words "I believe, I believe what the old man said though I know that there's no Lord above, I believe in you, I believe in me and you know I believe in love"

[dr_funkenstein]

What A Fool Believes by the Doobie Brothers always seemed to resonate with me - even though it's not really about religion specifically, the lyrics in the chorus are certainly something.

[Jun]

Most songs by Marilyn Manson are anti-Christ, anti-religion.

[Taphophilia]

Imagine by John Lennon

 

Imagine there's no Heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

 

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

 

You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

 

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

 

You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

[Deva]

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band - his first solo album. "I don't believe in Jesus, Beatles, etc. (whole list) I just believe in me". That one off this album and "I Found Out"- "There ain't no Jesus going to come from the sky, now that I found out, I know I can cry." Good Old John was pretty iconoclastic in many of his songs.

 

Not really an overt non Believer or athiest song, but as a fundie child in the 70s the hit song "Spirit in the Sky" with its line "I never been a sinner, I never sinned, " along with the idea that there was something separate and apart from,and more influential than Jesus called the "Spirit in the Sky" was the most subversive thing I had ever heard at the time! Loved it!

[LithaB]

I found Annie Lennox "No more I love You's" very soothing during my recovery phase.

 

I used to be lunatic

from the gracious days

I used to be woebegone

and so restless nights

My aching heart would bleed

for you to see

Oh but now...

(I don't find myself bouncing home whistling

buttonhole tunes to make me cry)

 

No more I love you's

The language is leaving me

No more I love you's

Changes are shifting outside the word

[Luke Wolf]

Marilyn Manson;

Anti-Christ Superstar

Fight song (especially good, with a chorus "I am not a slave to a god that doesn't exist.)

The Beautiful People (about the holier than thou crowd)

Redeemer

 

Slayer;

Pretty much everything they ever released.

 

Metallica - The God that failed

 

Slipknot

Heretic Anthem (Which is NOT called "555 to the 666" which isn't even the correct lyrics. The actual chorus is "If you 555 then I'm 666.)

People = Shit (Not one that strongly meets the criteria, but it does have some good anti-christian/satanic lyrics.)

 

Dimmu Borgir's new album "In Sorte Diaboli" is a concept about a medieval European Priest who gets tired of the Christian hypocrisy and bullshit, and turns to Satanism. If you like symphonic metal, I HIGHLY recommend this album.

 

Lamb of God;

Vigil

Walk with me in hell

 

Iron Maiden - The Number of The Beast

 

Mushroomhead - 43 (Especially the intro, which involves a priest being laughed at, followed by a "I don't believe god.")

 

Pantera - Cemetery Gates (Allthough not just religion, but is referenced)

 

Ozzy - need I say more about the Prince of Darkness?

 

One of my personal favorites - Shadows Fall - The Light That Blinds

 

Some other groups with some songs, but I'm too lazy to list them all - Hypocrisy; Sepultura; Opeth; Iced Earth; Cradle of Filth; I feel like I'm forgetting some that will make me feel like an idiot when I remember them.

[Loren]

Song: This Is Heresy

 

Group: Christian Death

 

Deep, menacing, ominous sound, great spoken lyrics! Love this song! Doesn't look like much just reading the printed lyrics, but the sound is awesome.

 

 

Immorality sucked rudely at my throat.

They shall lick the dust like serpents.

Hold your tongue, get thee behind me.

 

Your church makes me vomit

into the vertiginous abyss.

Fueled by mice;

Dear god allow me to show gratitude

for my fortunate eyes of truth.

 

Lord, lord, how long shall the wicked...

lord, how long shall the wicked... triumph on earth?

lord, how long shall the wicked triumph on earth?

 

These loathsome parasites, that cling to the cross

the cloth and the skin, soaked in the blood of men;

not the body of christ

 

This is heresy!

This is heresy!

 

i admit in no way approval

[Robbobrob]

Our choir sang Lennnon's "Imagine" one Sunday. It was very well recieved (must be why Christians and Texas don't like us UU folk).

 

Anthrax - Superhero ("There is no God, there is no King....")

 

Drawing a blank on others, except ones already mentioned.

[Guest Marty]

Don't know the song name, but Dave Mathews Band on the album "Everyday" has a lyric:

 

"Praying to god on high

Is like clinging to straws while drowning"

 

always liked that one!

[GraphicsGuy]

"It's My Life" and "Have a Nice Day" by Bon Jovi are pretty much the extreme opposites of the concept of submitting to Jesus.

[leftofpunk]

Practically anything from Bad Religion. Empire strikes first would be a good place to start

[junkpoet]

Imagine is my favorite...no one says it or sings it quite like John

 

If God had a Name,

what would it be and -

would you call it to His face

if you were faced with Him

in all His Glory,

what would you ask

if You had just one question...

 

and yeah, yeah

God is great

Yeah, yeah

God is good

Yeah, yeah

yeah yeah yeah

 

What if God was one of Us?

Just a slob like one of Us?

Just a stranger on a bus, trying to make His

way home...

 

If God had a face,

what would it look like and

would wou want to see

if seeing meant that

You would have to believe

in things like

Heaven and in Jesus and the Saints

and all the Prophets and...

 

Yeah, yeah

God is great

Yeah, yeah

God is good

Yeah, yeah

yeah yeah yeah

 

What if God was one of Us?

Just a slob like one of Us?

Just a stranger on a bus,

trying to make His way Home...

 

Tryin' to make his way Home

Back up to Heaven all alone...

Nobody callin' on the phone

'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome...

 

and Yeah, yeah

God is Great

Yeah, yeah

God is Good

Yeah, yeah

yeah yeah yeah

 

What if God was one of Us?

Just a slob like one of Us?

Just a Stranger on a bus,

trying to make His way Home...

just tryin to make his way home...

Just like a holy rolling stone...

[sharkindeepwater]

Why are we stuck in this pantomime

Fearing a god who died

One who would not deny lovers

And I don't care what they say

If all you need is your faith

Then take a look at my face and know

 

Until your rapture falls to pieces

Til your rapture falls to pieces

Find in me the room to breathe. . .

 

It's got to be a guy singing to a girl suffering religious abuse. It's pretty dark. That's "Rapture," by Hurt.

 

Yes I would if I could destroy your God

Because you're born again

Until you're worn again. . .

 

It captures the cyclic despair of an unrewarding/punishing spiritual relationship, and later goes into the death of a child--like I said, dark; but it's very evocative for me. (In fact, not one of the songs I listen to if I'm already down or have been thinking about my church and it nearly triggered me once. )

[Thurisaz]

All morontheists out there who think painful truths are for them exclusively to use (HA! Painful their crap might be, but truth?! )... think again, busters.

 

 

Inkubus Sukkubus: CHURCH OF MADNESS

 

Here come the Christian knights

Dressed in red and white

To bring the Holy Word and set the world alight

Here comes a plague of idiots blinded by their faith

Here comes the Inquisition to burn you at the stake

 

Here comes the Church of Madness

Bearing gifts of death and torture

Here comes the Church of Madness

Of Jesus Christ their Lord

The fire and the fury

To be our judge to be our jury

Here comes the Church of Madness

Of Jesus Christ their Lord

 

A new dark age descending, it’s Torquemada’s dream

Liberty lies raped, crushed, broken

Neath the Christian war machine

Nation after nation falling

In the shadow of the Christian sword

With death they bring the lore of love

 

Here comes the Church of Madness...

 

What do they tell the people of their old crusades?

Of the women and the children

Impaled on Christian blades

Rejoice they say for we are saved

And we must sing the fight

Sing it till your lungs burst or they’ll set you alight

 

Here comes the Church of Madness...

 

Now I don't know anything of Inkubus Sukkubus aside from their album "Wytches", but if it's all like that one... then it's damn good anti-morontheism stuff

[Aurelia]

I like to blare God Will Fuck You Up from time to time.

[WCrystal]

Practically anything from Bad Religion. Empire strikes first would be a good place to start

 

 

I agree, though I've been in love with the song "Big Bang" since I've heard it.... off of "No Control" I think, but then again, it (the cd) has been stolen from me.... but I do know it's on one of the really early ones.... I'm going to see them two saturdays from now, I'm so excited!! Eeeh!! Anyways.....

 

For other good no-god or songs see:

 

Deicide

Slayer

Christian Death

Pantera

Iron Maiden

 

and some other bands that I can't think of right now that are probably in my pile of cd's, records, and tapes.... who the hell knows what is in there because I sure don't.

[Babelfish]

XTC - Dear God

 

Tom Waits - Road to Peace (Not necessarily anti-religion per se, but critical of the effects of religion.)

 

Cradle of Filth - Her Ghost in the Fog (Song about a group of christians who rape and murder a woman labelled as a witch and then get what's coming to them.)

Well, pretty much any CoF song.

 

Iron Maiden - Brighter Than a Thousand Suns

[woodsmoke]

All morontheists out there who think painful truths are for them exclusively to use (HA! Painful their crap might be, but truth?! )... think again, busters.

 

 

Inkubus Sukkubus: CHURCH OF MADNESS

 

<lyrics snipped>

 

Now I don't know anything of Inkubus Sukkubus aside from their album "Wytches", but if it's all like that one... then it's damn good anti-morontheism stuff

 

Damn it! I should have known if I didn't post it yesterday you'd beat me to Inkubus Sukkubus!

 

Price I pay for having such excellent taste in music, I suppose...

 

Dear God, as Babelfish mentioned, is a great one; though I personally prefer the version by Sarah McLachlan.

 

Not necessarily non-believer, but Bob Dylan's With God On Our Side is a great criticism of blind polemic faith/patriotism.

 

Tori Amos' God and Mrs. Jesus are pretty good, too.

[Lycorth]

Iron Maiden - Brighter Than a Thousand Suns

 

 

Speaking of the almighty Maiden...

 

Montségur

 

I stand alone in this desolate space

In death they are truly alive

Massacred innocence, evil took place

The angels were burning inside

 

Centuries later I wonder why

What secret they took to their grave

Still burning heretics under our skies

Religion's still burning inside

 

[Chorus:]

At the gates and the walls of Montségur

Blood on the stones of the citadel

At the gates and the walls of Montségur

Blood on the stones of the citadel

At the gates and the walls of Montségur

Blood on the stones of the citadel

At the gates and the walls of Montségur

Blood on the stones of the citadel

 

As we kill them all so God will know his own

The innocents died for the Pope on his throne

Catholic greed and its paranoid zeal

Curse of the grail and the blood of the cross

 

Templar believers with blood on their hands

Joined in the chorus to kill on demand

Burned at the stake for their soul's liberty

To stand with the cathars, to die and be free

 

The book of Old Testament crippled and black

Satan - his weapon is lust

Leaving this evil damnation of flesh

Back to the torture of lies

 

The perfect ones willingly died at the stake

And all of their followers slain

As for the knowledge of God they had claimed

Religion's still burning inside

 

[Repeat chorus, 3rd verse]

 

Templar believers with blood on their hands

Joined in the chorus to kill on command

Burned at the stake for their soul's liberty

Still running heretics under our skies

 

As we kill them all so God know his own

Laugh at the darkness and in god we trust

The eye in the triangle smiling with sin

No passover feast for the cursed within

 

Facing the sun as they went to their grave

Burn like a dog or you live like a slave

Death is the price for your soul's liberty

To stand with the cathars and to die and be free

 

[Repeat chorus]

 

And an offering from my favorite Black Metal ensemble of all time:

Thus Spake The Nightspirit

 

Close your eyes and gaze into

this realm that I reveal.

See where eternities are born.

Close your eyes, behold the powers

of the broken seal.

See the liars bound in thorns.

 

Fear

and you shall fall.

Weakness suffocates your will.

Dare,

yet never fail.

Wisdom guides the one,

the strong who can defy

Death.

 

So I speak, though, am I heard...?

Wasting visions on a world of blinded fools.

 

Still I scorn

the vacant contradiction of life,

if only to bewilder.

The final truth shall speak my name.

 

Thus spake the nightspirit.

 

Nightspirit, spirit,

spirit, embrace my soul.

 

But all of Emperor's Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk is worthy

[Babelfish]

Metalheads unite

 

I'd also add virtually anything by Voltaire not so much for anti-religion content but for merrily flying in the face of christian culture.

 

When You're Evil

 

When the Devil is too busy

And Death's a bit too much

They call on me by name you see,

For my special touch.

To the Gentlemen I'm Miss Fortune

To the Ladies I'm Sir Prize

But call me by any name

Any way it's all the same

 

I'm the fly in your soup

I'm the pebble in your shoe

I'm the pea beneath your bed

I'm a bump on every head

I'm the peel on which you slip

I'm a pin in every hip

I'm the thorn in your side

Makes you wriggle and writhe

And it's so easy when you're evil

This is the life, you see

The Devil tips his hat to me

I do it all because I'm evil

And I do it all for free

Your tears are all the pay I'll ever need

 

While there's children to make sad

While there's candy to be had

while there's pockets left to pick

While there's grannies left to trip down the stairs

I'll be there, I'll be waiting 'round the corner

It's a game. I'm glad I'm in it

'Cause there's one born every minute

And it's so easy when you're evil

This is the life, you see

The Devil tips his hat to me

I do it all because I'm evil

And I do it all for free

Your tears are all the pay I'll ever need

 

I pledge my allegiance, to all things dark

And I promise on my damned soul

To do as I am told, Lord Beelzebub

Has never seen a soldier quite like me

Not only does his job, but does it happily.

 

I'm the fear that keeps you awake

I'm the shadows on the wall

I'm the monsters they become

I'm the nightmare in your skull

I'm a dagger in your back

An extra turn upon the rack

I'm the quivering of your heart

A stabbing pain, a sudden start.

 

And it's so easy when you're evil

This is the life, you see

The Devil tips his hat to me

I do it all because I'm evil

And I do it all for free

Your tears are all the pay I'll ever need

And I do it all for free

Your tears are all the pay I'll ever need

And I do it all for free

Your tears are all the pay I'll ever need

 

It gets so lonely being evil

What I'd do to see a smile

Even for a little while

And no one loves you when you're evil

I'm lying through my teeth!

Your tears are all the company I need

[smellincoffee]

Dan Barker has two cds out that are all aimed at religion. You can hear samples on "Freethought Radio".

[Thurisaz]

Damn it! I should have known if I didn't post it yesterday you'd beat me to Inkubus Sukkubus!

 

[Beowulf]

Singer Vienna Tang has a track called "The Atheist Christmas Carol" on her CD "Warm Stranger." I don't see anything overtly atheistic in the lyrics, but nothing very theistic, either.

 

Several songs on Jethro Tull's Aqualung album question traditional theology, including "My God" and "Hymn 43." My favorite line from that latter song is as follows:

 

If Jesus saves -- well, He'd better save Himself

from the gory glory seekers who use His name in death.